IN a front-page story headlined "Trust to attempt Privy Council challenge to Petty project" that appeared in the Mid-Ocean News last week, this newspaper confused two separate environmental issues involving the Bermuda National Trust.

This newspaper erroneously reported that the National Trust was considering taking legal action in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council regarding Mr. Kevin Petty's Hamptons Ltd. and its plans to build housing on land beneath Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in Southampton.

In fact, the Bermuda National Trust was considering taking such action relating to a Court of Appeal decision upholding a Ministerial directive overriding planning restrictions on a property on Harbour Road formerly owned by the late Lady Oona Chaplin.

That case has nothing whatsoever to do with The Hamptons property on Lighthouse Hill. Earlier this week the National Trust announced it would not in fact be pursuing an appeal of the Chaplin Estate Appeal Court decision to the Privy Council because of the likely high costs involved.

The Mid-Ocean News acknowledges its error and would like to apologise to Mr. Petty, the Hamptons Ltd. and the Bermuda National Trust for any embarrassment and distress caused by the article.

The Mid-Ocean News also accepts that the contents of the article are both untrue and defamatory as they relate to Mr. Petty and the Hamptons Ltd.

The Mid-Ocean News, of its own volition, will be making a financial contribution to the Bermuda National Trust in Mr. Petty's name.